For 28-year-old backpacker Wang Li, Kashgar isn’t just a destination—it’s a vibrant tapestry of history, culture, and human connection that lured her back after years in crowded cities. “The moment I stepped into the Old City, I felt like I’d entered a living museum,” she tells NewspaperAmigo.com, describing the labyrinth of adobe houses and bustling bazaars in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Where Ancient Culture Meets Modern Energy 🕌
Wang highlights Kashgar’s Sunday Market, a sensory overload of spices, silk scarves, and sizzling kebabs. “You’ll see Uygur artisans crafting copper teapots beside teens scrolling Douyin (“China’s TikTok”),” she laughs. The blend of tradition and youthful energy, she says, makes Kashgar “an Instagram story waiting to happen.”
More Than a ‘Silk Road Stop’ 🌾
While travelers often treat Kashgar as a pit stop on Silk Road itineraries, Wang urges staying longer. “Sip tea with locals at a chaikhana [tea house], learn a few Uygur phrases, and you’ll uncover stories no guidebook shares.” She plans to document her journey through vlogs, hoping to “show the warmth of Kashgar’s people beyond the geopolitics.”
